Axle-nut wrench.



No. 766,508. PATENTED AUG. 2, 1904. G. 0. LUTHER.

AXLB NUT WRENCH.

I APPLICATION FILED DE01. 1903.

Feliu- 5341 wmv-:5555. m INVENTUR.

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Patented August 2, 1904.

GARDNER C. LUTHER, OF SWANSEA, MASSACHUSETTS.

AXLE-NUT WRENCH.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No'. 766,508, dated August 2, 1904.

Application filed December l, 1903. Serial No. 183,364. (No model.)

To all whom if may concern:

Be it known that l, GARDNER C. LUTHER, a citizen of the United States of America, and a resident of Swansea, in the county of Bristol and State of Massachusetts, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Axle- Nut Vrenches, of which the following' is a specification.

My invention relates to improvements in axle-nut wrenches or devices of the class adapted to be permanently connected with a Vehicle-wheel, whereby the nut may be secured to and removed from the axle without handling' or exposing the nut; and it consists, essentially, of a combined cap and band member of novel construction adapted to be rigidly secured to the outer end of a wheel-hub and a spring-pressed wrench or socket member movably mounted in and interlocking with said band and adapted in use to receive the axle-nut, all as more fully hereinafter set forth and claimed.

In the accompanying' sheet of drawings, Figure 1 is a longitudinal sectional View taken through the center of the device, the latter being secured to the outer portion of a wheelhub and being represented in the normal or unlocked position, wherein the wheel is capable of being' turned freely in either direction independently of the axle-nut. Fig'. 2 is a corresponding inner end view of the parts, the hub, spring, and axle being removed. Fig. 3 is a sectional view similar to Fig'. l, but showing' the wrench or socket member pressed endwise into engagement with the axle-nut immediately preceding the act of turning the wheel to remove the nut. Fig'. 4 is a corresponding' inner end view, and Fig. 5 is a sectional View showing' the outer end portion of the band detached.

Myimproved axle-nut wrench-or wheelwrenches,77 as they are sometimes termed-A consists simply of the outer end band a, of metal, the independently-movable socket or wrench member proper, o, and springs, all constructed and arranged as clearly shown in the drawing's.

In lieu of the usual outer hub-band I employ the band c, adapted to be rigidly secured to the adjacent end of a hub H in any suitable mannerwas, for example, by means of pins or screws p. The band is provided with a transverse partition m near its outer end, from which extend inwardly oppositely-disposed circular cam-shaped flanges or projections (Z, each terminating' at the center thereof in a stop or abutment e. (See Fig's. 2, 4, and 5.) The said cam-flanges (Z are separated at opposite points, thus forming peripheral recesses c.

indicates a movable socket or wrench member having' oppositely-formed lugs b, adapted to loosely lit into said recesses c, thereby when in such normal position preventing it fromV axial movement in either direction, except the slight action due to play. The center portion b2 of member is cylindrical. The same extends inwardly outwardly and is turned to slidably tit the bearing a', formed in the band member a. The interior of said part b2 is recessed to form a socket n', adapted in use to freely iit the nut ny of the axle f.

It will be seen that a space is formed between the adjacent face of the hub H and that of the said member I), in which a suitable spring .s is interposed. As drawn, the spring is flat and is provided with a series of bent lingers in yielding engagement with the end of the hub, the function of said spring being to keep the wrench-piece I) in positive contact with the band at all times.

H, as drawn, indicates a vehicle-wheel hub having' a metal sleeve or bearingj" and mounted to turn freely on an axle f, the hub being recessed, if desired, to receive a washer w and flange of the axle-nut a, all as common.

The. manner of operation of my improved wheel-wrench A when secured to the hub of a vehicle-wheel may be described as follows: Assuming that the operator desires to remove the wheel from the axle for any purpose, (the axle being suitably jacked,) he first presses upon the outer end or center of the movable member I, thereby forcing' the latter endwise, resisted by the spring s until the lug's o' thereof are clear of the recesses c, the socket n at the same time passing' over and receiving the end portion of the axle-nut n., as clearly shown in Fig. 8. At the same time, too, the wheel itself is turned a short distance in the arrow direction until the stops e engage or interlock the adjacent ends or shoulders of the IOO lugs 6', supported on the cam-surfaces d. Fig. 4 shows the corresponding relation of the parts. Now upon continuing the rotation of the wheel the nut will further' enter the socket, the wheel meanwhile sliding endwise upon the axle until the nut is completely unscrewed. The wheel having the nut still supported in the socket may now be removed from the axle, if desired. After replacing the wheel upon the axle and pressing it endw wise until the nut has engaged the screw-thread the former is next turned in a reverse direction, thereby screwing the nut onto the axle until the turning force exceeds that of the spring s, at which instant the member or rather the lugs b thereof, slide from the cams into the recesses c, the. relation of the parts then being substantially as represented in Fig. 2. 1n case, however, it is desired or deemed advisable to still further set the nut it may be readily effected by again pressingthe center member b endwise, followed by continuing the rotation of the wheel, as in Fig. 2, thereby causing the opposite sides of the stops e to engage or interlock the lugs and thus setting the nut. The member may now be released from the nut by turning the wheel axially a short distance-say ninety degrecs-in the opposite direction, or until the lugs ZJ again register with the recesses c, at which instant the spring automatically acts to force the member outwardly until arrested by the seating of its lugs in said recesses, the normal relation of the parts then being substantially as shown in Figs. 1 and 2, thus completing the operation.

I may add that in locating and securing the band member to the hub the socket n of the movablemember should practically register'with the axle-nut n, as in Figs. 1 and 2. The device constitutes a self-contained wrench for removing nuts from carriage-axles. It is extremely simple in construction, strong and durable, and not liable to get out of order. It is also practically dust and oil proof and is comparatively inexpensive to manufacture. It is adapted to be readily applied to the hubs of old wheels as well as to new work.

I claim as my inventionl 1. As an improved article of manufacture, an axle-nut wrench consisting of a band member, adapted to be rigidly secured to the hub of a vehicle-wheel, having an apertured outer end whose inner face is provided with integral locking-pins, and a spring-pressed member b slidably mounted in said aperture having a socket adapted to freely receive the axle-nut therein, and further having lateral extensions arranged to engage or interlock withthe said lugs, substantially as described.

2. In a device of the class hereinbefore described, an axle, a vehicle-wheel revolubly mounted on said axle, and a nut screwed to the latter for retaining the wheel in position thereon, the combination therewith of an integral band member a, rigidly secured to the outer end of said hub, having a centrally# apertured end flange or web provided with short peripheral locking-lugs, a member b movably mounted in said aperture having its inner central portion recessed to receive said axle-nut and also adapted to engage said locking-lugs, and a spring interposed betweenand in yielding engagement with the face of said hub and the member substantially as described.

3. In an axle-nut wrench adapted to be permanently secured to the hub of a vehiclewheel, the integral band member a provided with suitably-disposed inner recesses c and stops or projections e communicating with said recesses by inclined or cam-shaped tracks d, the spring-pressed movable member b mounted in said band having a central socket registering with and adapted to receive the axlenut, and further having laterally-extending lugs b' arranged to beseated in said recesses cwhen not in action and being in operative engagement with said stops e whenever the axle-nut is actuated, substantially as described.

Signed at Providence, Rhode Island, this 30th day of November, 1903.

GARDNER C. LUTHER.

Witnesses:

GEORGE. H. REMINGTON, CALVIN H. BROWN. 

